In case anyone was wondering why I haven’t blogged as frequently, projects like this #Kpop inspired New Media story have taken over my life since enrolling in an MFA in Creative #Writing program last year. And what fun it has been!

This weekend my hypertext YA fiction “Internet-ional” went live. What started as a project for my graduate New Media class has evolved into a full-blown young adult, hypertext fiction primarily housed on a Wix site, but with Wattpad tie-ins, and upcoming e-books, all of which can be read for free.

#Kpop is, without a doubt, a very large influence on this story. One of the five members of girl group Daydream, Seung-yeon, is a former Korean pop star. The group’s manager, Chanyeol Park, is a former Kpop manager and Kpop idol herself. And, of course, the music and aesthetics of Kpop, which has been my primary genre of choice for almost ten years, permeate much of the new media story’s look and sound. In this post, I’ll be sharing some real life aspects of Korean pop music and culture that influenced elements of “Internet-ional.”

One thing I’ve found I love to do the last few years: bring a look from a story to life. It lets me combine my secret wish to be a fashion consultant/personal stylist with my love of reading, and Polyvore lets me do it without actually spending a dime.

While I typically aim to create everyday looks, Princess Eadlyn, protagonist of The Heir and The Crown by Kiera Cass wears only the finest. This modern ballgown by Modcloth.com combines the shape and detail of the dress from The Heir with the color of gown from The Crown. Accessorize with an embellished sash or belt and some dressy heels. And no princess would dare be caught on camera without her tiara! Find all the items used in this set and shop the look on Polyvore.

You all knew it was coming. Now that the move has settled down, I’ve had a bit of time to make my list of goals to complete before I turn 25 this time next year. Given the 50/50 success of last year’s goal, I’ve decided to be a bit more general this year to allow for flexibility. I have a private list of 24 specific things I hope to do. I’ll update you all as I progress with those, but here I’ll stick to the general themes:

Always Give My All

Last year I made a list of 23 Things to Do While 23. Now, just a few days shy of turning 24, I’m happy to report that while I didn’t make every goal, I have accomplished quite a few of the things I set out to do and several that are not on the list.

Ever since The Force Awakens hit theaters a few weeks ago, theories have been flying about the new trilogy. People are lining up to see the film twice, three, or even four times looking for hints, Reddit and Tumblr threads grow by the day, and Youtube channel theories abound. Want a source of further insight that’s 100% canon? Check out the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster. If you’ve seen the film, read the novel, and/or aren’t afraid of spoilers, let’s talk about some of the biggest reveals the novel offers that we didn’t see on screen. I’ve included some pages from the hardback novel for reference. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Supergirl does not make a good first, second, or third impression. Three episodes in to season one, I can say I’m ready to tune out for the remainder of the season. CBS’ Supergirl is like Smallville meets Men in Black mixed with TheDevil Wears Prada but with all the bad acting and corniness of the 1970’s Wonder Woman live action show. Allow me to explain.

As any veteran Kpop fan knows, Girls’ Generation is one of the most successful girl groups in the industry. The 8 members of SNSD made a comeback earlier this month with 2 new music videos, both featuring some awesome outfits.

As we near the end of July, the back-to-school commercials begin and fall fashions start filling the shelves of stores. But summer isn’t over yet! There have been a lot of big name comebacks lately from Big Bang, Girls’ Generation, and more. Here are my picks for the best Kpop summer jams of 2015: